言い換え

• Reading: いいかえ
• Romaji: iikae
• Kanji breakdown: 言 (gen/i) — say, word, speech; 換 (kan/ka) — exchange, replace
• Pronunciation: /i.i.ka.e/

Meaning

Rephrasing; paraphrase. The act of expressing the same idea using different words.

A noun derived from the verb 言い換える (to rephrase). Commonly used in academic, editorial, and test-taking contexts where clear communication is essential. Frequently appears in the pattern 言い換えれば (in other words) or 言い換えると (to put it another way). An important skill tested on the JLPT and in Japanese composition courses.

Examples

1. この文章を簡単な言い換えで説明してください。 Please explain this passage using a simple paraphrase.
2. 言い換えれば、彼は賛成しているということだ。 In other words, it means that he agrees.
3. 難しい専門用語は言い換えを使って伝えた方がいい。 It's better to use paraphrases when conveying difficult technical terms.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, education, presentations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 言い (ii, saying/speaking, stem of 言う) + 換え (kae, exchanging/switching, stem of 換える). Literally 'exchanging what is said' — replacing one expression with another equivalent one.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated